Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Well, you have each claimed to possess a high tolerance for ridiculousness. Time to put your money where your mouth is.

The Mystery Competition will pit the four teams against each other in a single-elimination tournament of SoSG Baseball. The rules are as follows:

Each game will consist of one inning.

As with regular baseball, the team at bat will have its members take turns at bat. Therefore, unlike regular baseball, the batting order is only four deep.

Unlike 'regular' baseball, the team in the field will also have its members take turns pitching. This is to give everybody approximately equal playing time.

The result of each at-bat (e.g., a hit or an out) is determined by competing in one of several simple yet inane online games.

In the morning (I reserve the right to skip some mornings without notice), I will announce the online game that will determine the outcome of the next at-bat. Whoever is scheduled to pitch or bat will have until midnight PT to take a screenshot of their high score in the indicated game and email it to us. Failure to mail in a score results in forfeiture of your at-bat.

Do not reveal to anyone except SoSG what score you attained. Please don't include it in any comments you post. Doing so will also result in forfeiture of your at-bat.

Therefore, for each at-bat, SoSG will receive a score from both the pitcher and the batter, and each will be unaware of what the other scored.

There are five possible outcomes of each at bat: a single, a double, a home run, an out, or a double play. Which outcome applies will be determined by two factors: 1) whose score is higher, and 2) by the last digit of the scores themselves.

If the batter's score is equal or greater than the pitcher's, then:

If the last digit of each score is equal, it is a home run

If the last digit of each score is within one of each other, it is a double

Otherwise, it is a single

If the pitcher's score is greater than the batter's, then:

If the last digit of each score is equal or within one of each other, it is a double play.

Otherwise, it is an out

Here are some examples:

Pitcher scores 55, batter scores 40 -> out

Pitcher scores 50, batter scores 131 -> double

Pitcher scores 50, batter scores 52 -> single

Pitcher scores 40, batter scores 50 -> home run

Pitcher scores 50, batter scores 50 -> home run

Pitcher scores 51, batter scores 50 -> double play

Pitcher scores 50, batter scores 51 -> double

Pitcher scores 65, batter scores 36 -> double play

Furthermore, the following baserunning rules will apply:

No runners advance in case of an out.

A double play will always erase batter and lead runner

A single advances a man from 1st to 2nd and scores a man from 2nd or 3rd.

A double scores a man from 1st, 2nd, or 3rd.

The result of each at bat will be announced a day or two afterwards, and the game status will be adjusted accordingly.

Other than the above, it's EXACTLY like real baseball. And yes, it probably is possible to cheat, either through doctoring your screenshot, rigging the games, or some other way. And we probably won't catch it. But if you're doing that, then come on, you're cheating at this? Really?

Anyhow, here are the team matchups (thanks to Orel for creating the logos):

(click image to enlarge)

So the semifinals have RISPy Business facing off against Sweeney Sour Pork, and Rancho Ardiendo taking on GSoSG (with RISPy Business and Rancho Ardiendo up to bat first). The winners of each showdown will then meet in the final. The teams' initial batting and pitching orders are as listed in the logos, though they will shift after the first run-through to avoid repeating matchups.

So get ready to rumble. Monday morning the competition will begin with the announcement of what online game the leadoff hitters (and pitchers) will compete in. Any questions please post here.

How much time do we have to pitch and bat?. I'm worried because i'm in the US right now and i won't get home 'till Tuesday night. However, since it looks like real baseball i'll do whatever it takes.Also, who chose the names of the teams?